A Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader of Jahangirnagar University unit went on a fast unto death strike on Thursday noon to press home three-point demand including punishment of those involved in removing the portrait of Bangabandhu from the university campus.
The hunger strike began at around 1:00pm at the Shaheed Minar premises following the removal of the graffiti of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the wall of the new arts building, according to witnesses.
The aggrieved leader, Enamul Haque Enam, a 43rd batch student of the Public Health and Informatics Department at the university and also a Vice-President of JU Chhatra League, is currently on hunger strike.
Enam demanded immediate expulsion from the university of those involved in defaming Bangabandhu and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the assurance of maximum punishment as per the rules and regulations of the university and national laws.
He also demanded an investigation into the negligence of the concerned authorities for not taking appropriate action even after eight days of the incident.
Questioning the purpose of the university administrations formed inquiry committee, Enam said, "The administration formed an inquiry committee after pressure from various sides. But they didn take any steps yet. The culprits showed their ego by issuing a statement after the incident. It seems like the culprits enjoy immunity."
Terming the situation as a farce, he attributed the failure of the president and general secretary of the university unit Chhatra League for not taking proper initiative in this regard.
According to university sources, the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was painted on the wall of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities building.
However, after the incident of rape of an outsider woman in the university on February 3, a group of Chhatra Union leaders removed Bangabandhus portrait and painted a graffiti on the night of February 7.
The faction of the JU Chhatra Union involved in the incident led by Amartya Roy and Riddha Anindya Ganguly of the 47 batch of the Archeology Department of the university.
Two top brass leaders of the JU Chhatra Union confessed the issue. They said, "The graffiti was painted to support the universitys anti-rape movement and warn oppressors. It also highlighting the relevance of the anti-rape movement."
"The graffiti was painted on the portrait, which turned blurred in over three years. But a large clear painting of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is still existing beside the side wall," they added.
